Rockies at Brewers
The Colorado Rockies are feeling a little better about themselves as they try for a four-game series split against the Brewers in Milwaukee on Thursday afternoon. The Rockies had lost five straight to the Brewers and were 2-12 in their previous 14 meetings - playoffs included - prior to Wednesday's 11-4 victory that saw Milwaukee's Christian Yelich, the reigning National League MVP, miss his third straight game because of lower back discomfort.
Yelich (.354, 14 home runs, 34 RBIs) isn't expected to play Thursday with Brewers manager Craig Counsell telling reporters about his return: "I would say we’re trending toward the Mets series (this weekend), probably.” Colorado's Nolan Arenado, third in the 2018 MVP voting, belted a pair of home runs Wednesday and has eight this season - all in the last 15 games. Milwaukee's Jesus Aguilar was 4-for-7 with three home runs and seven RBIs in the first two games of the series to raise his average to .163 before walking in all four plate appearances Wednesday after scheduled starter Chase Anderson was a late scratch (blister) and subsequently placed on the 10-day injured list. The Brewers' Freddy Peralta (shoulder) will be activated from the 10-day IL to start Thursday and oppose Jon Gray, who was ineffective in his last turn after three straight quality outings.
TV: 1:10 p.m. ET, MLB Network; FS Wisconsin (Milwaukee)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Rockies RH Jon Gray (2-3, 3.65 ERA) vs. Brewers RH Freddy Peralta (1-0, 7.13)
Gray allowed five runs, eight hits (two home runs) and three walks in 4 2/3 innings of Colorado's 9-5 victory at Atlanta on Saturday. The 27-year-old Oklahoma native yielded a combined two runs and 10 hits in 19 2/3 frames while going 2-1 in his previous three starts but walked 10 during that span, and at least three in each of his last four outings. Travis Shaw is 3-for-11 with two solo home runs and a double against Gray, who is 0-1 with a 5.40 ERA and 35 strikeouts in 23 1/3 innings (four starts) versus Milwaukee.
Peralta made a rehab start Saturday with Double-A Biloxi, striking out seven over 4 2/3 innings and 75 pitches - 52 for strikes. The 22-year-old Dominican did not reach or get out of the fourth inning in three of his first four starts this season but permitted two hits and struck out 11 in eight frames of a 1-0 victory at Cincinnati on April 3 in the other. Peralta allowed one hit and two walks with a career-high 13 strikeouts in 5 2/3 shutout innings of his major league debut - a 7-3 victory at Colorado on Mother's Day 2018.
WALK-OFFS
1. Rockies 1B Daniel Murphy has reached base in all seven games since missing 22 with a finger injury, going 8-for-28 with two home runs, five RBIs, three doubles and five walks during that span.
2. The Brewers have gone deep in their first 17 home games this season - a club record and the third-longest such streak in baseball history behind the 2000 Blue Jays (21) and the 2002 Athletics (18).
3. Colorado SS Trevor Story belted his eighth home run of the season Wednesday - a three-run shot - and is 1-for-12 in three contests since his 16-game hitting streak ended.